Boxes of American Crafts

Did you hear a squeal yesterday? If so, I'll hold up my hand and say sorry, that was me! 

Yesterday I signed for several boxes of the yummiest American Crafts products, which actually, I wasn't expecting until the New Year, so you can understand my squeal now, can't you? Anyhow, as it's you, I wanted to just show you a little glimpse of what's coming.

Also, just to let you know, that last posting before Christmas will be tomorrow.  I'll then be taking a little break until the New Year, so although you'll be able to order - I'm sorry, I can't guarantee anything will be posted out until the 9th January.

I'd like to take this chance to say a big thank you for all your support this year - and the kindness you've all shown me, in what's been the hardest year for me.  I can't thank you enough xxx

Times & Seasons - Movember

We all love to check out the latest Gotta Craft kit; but it's definitely worth keeping an eye out for other new additions to the shop. Sandra has fresh stock arriving all the time.Recently she sent me some of the new Echo Park Times & Seasons - and it didn't take me long to decide how to use my pick of the papers, Spiffy Mustache:

I made a layout about "Movember". And because I couldn't persuade anyone else in the family to sport a tache for my photo - I added one to a picture of our hamster. It's silly, I know. But Movember is a wonderful cause and Gary was happy to lend his support.

Beard and hat both cut with the Slice

I used some pieces from the sticker sheet and some scraps of Glitz Vintage Blue which Sandra suggested as a great match. She's right - they go together perfectly!

Scrap365 - Issue 2 has arrived

As soon as the postman delivers the latest pack of Scrap365 magazines, I tear open the wrapping and search for Sian's articles.  Well this month, trust me, you're going to LOVE what she's come up with - In true style she's created the most gorgeous layout, showing us how to use up those odds & ends.

I will say, the designers in this magazine are truly talented, they've come up with some amazing articles.  So, I think it calls for a few minutes of me time, so armed with a cup of coffee & Scrap365 ... what more can a girl ask for.

I'll be back with a couple of layouts using the kit ... which has now sold out - but single papers are still available.

Sneaky Peek Time

Can you believe it ... the last kit of the year ... and what a kit it is.

It will be going on sale Friday 9th December around 8pm.  As always, gorgeous, gorgeous papers and matching cardstock.  This month you'll also find an alphabet sheet and word sheet ... some gems, flower, buttons & ribbons. 

You'll also find some add-ons tomorrow, if you're after the full collection.

Making Memories with Memorandum

While we wait for Sandra's lovely Christmas kit, I thought I'd show you my Christmas album inspired by November's kit. I've been using the Lilybee Memorandum to put it togethet:

I didn't manage to squeeze the whole thing from the kit - I ordered an extra 6x6 paper pad which made it very easy to decorate my paper bag album.

Becasue of the bags I have extra pockets for pull out pages, and you can see that I am adding in some of the tags from my last post too.

I'll have more to show you as it progresses and if you are interested in a tutorial for a paper bag album, you can find one here on my own blog (did I tell you I gave it a Facebook page? One of my first "likes"? Gotta Craft, of course!). But what about your Christmas album? Anyone making one this year?



It's Just Scraps - Christmas Tags

I held off as long as I could. Really I did. But those Memorandum scraps have been shouting Christmas! at me and I was finding them hard to resist.

I decided to make some gift tags with the help of my Slice.

I layered the different tag shapes up to make them feel a bit more special

and even added a bit of Christmas sparkle. Then I hung them all on my new display board and turned it into this:

Get ready for Christmas as Gotta Craft! The Memorandum kit is now sold out (although you can buy the pieces to make your own right here). But Sandra has a beautiful December kit planned. Watch this space!

Take One Collection...

Using only papers from the new Harvest Market collection now available at Gotta Craft, 8 scrappers came up with 8 very different but equally stunning layouts:

Wendy used the blues and neutral tones to match her black and white photograph and create pretty borbers and matting.

Wendy used a whole sheet of one paper as her background and embellished it with brown and blue embellishments to create a wonderful vintage feel.

Sandra created a bold collage of photos against a red and blue background complete with patterned paper bunting. We all agreed 9 photos on one layout is very hard to do but this still has a lovely uncluttered and stylish feel to it.

Michelanne went for a spotty red and white design, using the spotty papers to enhance the photos of her little baby ladybird. How adorable is he?!

Gaye used her papers for matting, for creating flowers and for the buckle embellishments on this bright and bold design.

Debbie used the Cricut to cut one patterned paper into a gorgeous border for this very pretty layout.

Lynne layered up her papers against a yellow background and misted the lighter papers to create the wonderful flower cluster at the top


And my layout (minus photo of me!) had lots of white space and a splash of colour from both sides of the papers used to create matting, frames and embellishments.

We were all surprised when we put the layouts together just how many different styles and colour schemes and themes could be made from one paper collection.

Something Spooky.....

So Halloween has been and gone as well as Bonfire Night (where does the time go!) and if you have some pictures to scrap from Halloween then the October kit is perfect. My two dressed up for the occasion so I decided to scrap some of the pictures of them in their costumes.

I had already used most of my papers on the mini book and card that I made so I cut some of my scraps into diamonds and laid them out a bit like patchwork onto my kraft card background. It is hard to tell from the picture but a lot of the papers  have glazed designs on them which make the papers feel very luxurious and it gives them an extra dimension. The title was cut out from one of the papers as was the little owl on a branch that I stuck onto the journaling card.

If you already have the kit we'd love to see your Halloween layouts made with it, and if you don't have it already there are still some kits left in the shop.

Have a great week x

Note to Self: Buy More Memorandum

So there I was, crouched in the wet grass, with no coat on, taking pictures of pumpkins and thinking "Sandra, these papers better be worth it".

And of course, they are. November's kit has Lily Bee's stunning Memorandum. This collection is beautiful! every last little bit of it. Honestly, I have already been back to the shop and ordered a Tiny Tablet because I am thinking about using it for my Christmas album this year. See how it looks with a Christmassy page?

The patterns are truly lovely; but what makes this collection so special is the ledger paper reverse sides. Each one is a winner - very easy to use as a background or cut into journaling blocks or mini albums. Check them all out in the shop. But don't hang around taking notes for too long - just remember, supplies of the Memorandum kit and its lovely add on won't last forever!

And those pumpkins? Here they are.

We faked it this year. These ones came from a shop. You'll find that pretty blue ribbon in the kit, along with some cute things I have even started on yet. I'll be back with more..

Fancy a peek?

November's kit goes on sale tomorrow ... and just to tempt you, here is a naughty little peek at something Sian created from it

Scrap365 has landed

The doorbell rang yesterday morning, and I signed for a lovely package marked Gotta Craft, and I kept thinking, "what am I expecting today"? ... So I quickly opened it up, and boy did I smile .... for in my hands I held copies of the amazing brand new magazine that has just been launched ... SCRAP365.  Now you're probably thinking, why is she buzzing over this ... well our very own SIAN is on the Design Team - how exciting is that!   I quickly scanned through it to find her projects, and trust me ...Sian and the other design team memebers sure don't disappoint.  Sian has also done an article entitled "Rip it Up and Start Again?" which I just know you'll enjoy.

Its a magazine packed full of amazing projects, from scrapbooking layouts, art journals (I know I'm going to try the "My Stuff It book") to a really lovely door wreath with paper flowers attached.  You'll even find a couple of really nice cut out and keep sketches.  Its really well thought out, and I know I'm a complete magazine junkie, but trust me, you'll really enjoy this one.

I've also started stocking The Craft Stamper! and the fact that this comes complete with a stamp, makes it a real win win magazine. 

Using up those scraps....

I'm sure most people reading this are probably the same as me when it comes to throwing away those little scraps of pretty papers - I just have to keep them! Occasionally I feel the need to try and use them and for these scraps I had left over from Authentique's Blissful 6x6 papers I decided to make a patchwork effect background for my card. I cut a circle from scrap paper, covered it in glue and then stuck my scraps on randomly (making sure they were all cut with right-angled corners so they lined up) When I had covered the entire circle I turned it over and trimmed back the overhanging edges, and then added some faux zig-zag stitching with a black fine line pen.

I made some flowers to embellish the card using plain card spritzed with glimmer mists layered with more of the paper scraps.

Thanks for stopping by.

Looks what's new

Here is a little sneaky peek at the box that's just arrived ...... check out the site soon, for all this gorgeousness from My Minds Eye.

Happy Halloween

No tricks here, just lots of yummy treats.  Make sure you're ready to scrap those fun pictures you get this evening with our selection of Halloween goodies.

It's Just Scraps (But it's Spooky)

Okay, I think I'd better hold my hand up from the start and say that this was one of those projects that seemed like a good idea at the time. You know the kind?

It started out as a pile of black cardstock and some blue and grey Authentique papers. They said Halloween to me. Something sophisticated - my two are too big to dress up now, but I thought a few more grown up decorations round the house might be nice. I had spotted a paper chandelier in a magazine and wondered if I could make it work. I did. Just about. Eventually.

Two trips into town, a plea on UKS and a lot of hunting and I had a Halloween punch and two shapes to glue my shapes onto:

I also used my Slice to cut some pumpkins and stars, and lengths of black ribbon to tie it together. If I made one again, I would wrap the shapes in black fabric first and glue onto that to save the base from showing through. But you live and learn! So, wrap two hoops in fabric strips or black wool, and glue punched shapes all over them. I sewed more witches into banners for a drapey effect (they worked well and would make great decorations on their own) and tied the two hoops together with the ribbon. You could also add buttons, streamers , anything to give a really loaded on effect

It did take a few evenings of punching and glueing, but it's a great way of putting scraps to good use. And if Halloween isn't your thing - what about a Christmas version? Or flowers or butterflies for Spring? Just thinking ahead..

Thank You

I'd like to say a big thank you for all your kind messages recently over the loss of my Dad.  I'm still feeling very lost, but I'm getting there.

The shop is now back open - and lots of new products will be uploaded over the coming days.

Don't forget to check out the October kit too .... and Clare's amazing creations with it.

October Kit - Pink Paislee Phantom

This month's kit is filled with lots of lovely Pink Paislee Phantom - perfect to get your Halloween photos scrapped or maybe make a mini album? I love the glittery orange alphabet that comes with the kit and there are lots of letters on there to keep you going!

This is my mini album, I based the design on one I saw here and as you can see there are lots of pages to decorate, here are just a few of them here -

 I tied the whole album up and secured it with the ribbon that comes in the kit, I used some black Distress Ink to make it darker.

You will find that the papers are quite versatile and they also work fantastically with your non-Halloween layouts and cards too. Most of the papers have some glazing on them, making them feel very luxurious!

To see another card and a layout created with the kit you can check out the Gottacraft Facebook page here.

Brand New to Gotta Craft

A brand new supplier to Gotta Craft is Lawn Fawn .... and believe me, you're going to love these stamps.

I've already know which are my favourites and I think you'll soon get hooked too.  I can't wait to make some cards with these and ProMarkers

They have a super blog too, which you can find HERE

Gorgeous New Stock

It's been coming in, thick and fast these days - and it's not over yet.  More still to come.

But for now, I've uploaded the gorgeous .... gorgeous .... Lily Bee Papers.  I can honestly say without a doubt I love each and everyone of them.  The hardest bit, for me, will be which side to use.

Here's Harvest Market

And Memorandum (which little hint ... will be appearing in a kit soon)

Do go and check out the amazing Alphabet stickers ... these are my all time Favs (at the moment lol) and also the sticker sheets and journaling cards - you can find them all HERE. Yup, Lily Bee Designs .... you've excelled again.